If your child has a habit that could affect his or her oral health, it is important to get treatment early on to prevent damage to the teeth. There are certain solutions that your pediatric orthodontist may recommend, such as habit appliances, in order to help prevent problems.

Read on for an overview of habit appliances and how they can help your child.

What Are Habit Appliances?

A habit appliance is a tool used by pediatric dentists and orthodontists to help prevent or correct problems with the bite of a child. They can be used to lessen the impact of a habit like thumb sucking, and can even eliminate the need for braces in the future.

There are a few different types of habit appliances. Some are more invasive than others, but all have the goal of breaking habits that could damage a child's bite or teeth while also mitigating the effects of such behavior. Two common habits that can be treated by a pediatric orthodontist are thumb sucking and tongue thrusting.

How Do Habit Appliances Work?

The problem with both thumb sucking and tongue thrusting is that these activities can push on the teeth, moving them out of alignment. They can also turn the teeth, forcing a child's bite out of place and causing dental problems and pain.

Depending on the type of appliance your child needs, it could work in a few different ways. Some appliances make thumb sucking or tongue thrusting uncomfortable, while others work to hold the teeth in place. Still others feature beads or a roller for the child to work with his or her tongue instead of pushing on the teeth.